LANGSTONE HARBOUR

Internationally important: Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Dunlin Nationally important: Red-breasted Merganser, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Black- tailed Godwit

Site description Geese reached 5,804 in February. This figure lies between represented the highest Low Tide Count in and Chichester Harbours on the south coast. At recent years, and was higher than any peak high tide, the estuary resembles a land-locked Core Count since the 1999/2000 winter. The lake but at low tide, this basin of saltmarsh and birds were widespread over the harbour, with intertidal flats is predominately muddy, the highest densities in the north at Farlington, becoming sandier towards the harbour mouth. Chalkdock Lake and near the outfall from The intertidal mudflats have areas of eelgrass Brockhampton Sewage Works (Figure 63). (Zostera ) that are amongst the most extensive One Light-bellied Brent Goose was found in Britain. Four islands lie within the harbour amongst them. Shelduck peaked in February; and around these is the largest and most the northern half of the harbour was favoured diverse area of saltmarsh. A large proportion slightly with higher densities at Farlington and of the vegetation is dominated by cordgrass off Brockhampton Sewage Works. Spartina, although there is evidence that this is Wigeon numbers fluctuated over the winter suffering dieback. On the northern shore of the but peaked in February, most birds using harbour lies Local Nature Farlington Marshes and Chalkdock Lake in the Reserve (LNR), a peninsula of enclosed north. Gadwall, Teal and Shoveler were found grassland and marsh. Other conservation exclusively at Farlington. Mallard and Pintail measures exist in the form of Ramsar and SPA had a slightly more widespread distribution designations, a LNR at Kench and an RSPB with the majority at Farlington and on the flats reserve. The whole area is surrounded by to the east. Goldeneye and Red-breasted urban development, although most of the land Merganser were found in all the channels immediately adjacent to the shore is relatively throughout the harbour. Moorhen and Coot open. Leisure pursuits are numerous; power- were restricted to Farlington Marshes and boating and water-skiing take place, whilst Milton Pools. Small numbers of Tufted Duck, sailing is widespread throughout the estuary. Eider and a single Water Rail were also noted. Walking and birdwatching constitute the main Oystercatcher numbers were fairly evenly land-based recreation. Netting for fish, distributed over the harbour, although higher shellfishing, bait-digging and wildfowling also densities were found in the Chalkdock Lake occur. In the long-term, predicted sea-level rise area. Ringed Plover and Grey Plover were is likely to be a key issue, due to the potential widespread over the harbour with the highest loss of the undisturbed low islands that act as densities found around Chalkdock Lake. The important roost sites. largest aggregations of Lapwing were at Farlington Marshes and the tidal flats to the Bird distribution west, with very few noted on other areas. Knot Little Grebes were found only in the north of were clustered off in the west, the harbour, whilst Great Crested Grebes were and in the south east corner. Dunlin were the far more widespread. Black-necked Grebes most abundant species present in the harbour, peaked at four, all in the main channel in the and were present in all areas (Figure 63). The northeast of the harbour. Cormorants and Grey harbour is an internationally important site for Herons were found throughout the harbour, the this species, however the 9,393 birds recorded latter favouring the southern end. Little Egrets on the Low Tide Count in February is far peaked at 73 in November and were found in lower than the maximum Core Count of all areas of the harbour, typical of their 24,286 for the same period, suggesting that the ubiquity around . Canada Geese birds recorded at roost are feeding elsewhere, were only on Farlington Marshes whilst small possibly in Portsmouth and Chichester numbers of Mute Swan were widely Harbours. Another species present in distributed. Numbers of Dark-bellied Brent nationally important numbers is Black-tailed

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Godwit, with birds widespread around the Turnstone peaked at 226 in February mostly at outer flats. Bar-tailed Godwit favoured the Chalkdock Lake and the flats to the east. The southern half of the harbour. Curlew and following species of wader were also found in Redshank were widespread over the whole small numbers: Avocet, Sanderling, Little area with slightly higher densities near Stint, Snipe, Greenshank and Common Brockhampton Sewage Works in the north. Sandpiper.

Figure 63. WeBS Low Tide Count distributions of Dark-bellied Brent Goose and Dunlin at Langstone Harbour, winter 2003/04 (BSW=Brockhampton Sewage Works, FM=Farlington Marshes).

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